Anyone have any special tricks or techniques that help entice the tough winter bite for river smallies?

[Ohioguy25]

Typically it seems to be down to the Ned rig at this time of year, although I’m wondering if switching up the color or profile may offer any advantage, and what everyone has tried with success?

[SpellCaster]

Just last week I caught a near-3-pounder on a weightless fluke on the Tennessee River.

[Scott F]

Assuming you’ve found their wintering area, you need to wait for a sunny day when temperatures are up, and fish the area. If you haven’t found the deeper holes where they will literally stack up during the winter, you won’t have much if any luck. In either case, you need a warming period that might get a few fish active.

[Ohioguy25]

1 minute ago, SpellCaster said:

Just last week I caught a near-3-pounder on a weightless fluke on the Tennessee River.

I’ve added flukes to my arsenal as well, although with 1/8 and 1/16 because they’re deep.

1 minute ago, Scott F said:

Assuming you’ve found their wintering area, you need to wait for a sunny day when temperatures are up, and fish the area. If you haven’t found the deeper holes where they will literally stack up during the winter, you won’t have much if any luck. In either case, you need a warming period that might get a few fish active.

Yeah, makes sense. What would you say the water temp threshold is, 42-43?

[Scott F]

The water isn’t going to warm up much at all. But, the sun will warm up some shallow, usually still water eddies in the afternoon. Knowledge of the river and where the wintering spots are is going to go a long way. Even if you aren’t catching, the more time you spend on the water, the more you’ll learn. The bass will use the same spots year after year.

[Scott F]

There is one trick for catching winter river smallmouth. Warm water discharges from sewage treatment plants (it’s the cleanest water in the river) or power generating plants will bring in active fish. They are often very small spots and well worth the effort, IF you can get access.

[heavyduty]

Yep, find the wintering area. I'll throw small profile jigs with trd bugz. Nikko leach,  2.75" tubes, small profile craws work for me. I'll throw out a jerkbait and just let it swim behind the boat while I'm fishing my plastics on the bottom. SLOW on the plastics. I'll move them with the reel and not the rod. I tend to move them too far by lifting the rod. Keep slack out of the line, often the bite is mushy. Any difference you feel in the bait, set the hook.

@Scott F, good info!

[TnRiver46]

Nightcrawler on jighead 

[Susky River Rat]

I will go vertical in slack water deeper winter holes. Jigs, spoons etc. 

[BassinBrett]

I fished on the Mississippi today and I started with a Keitech Fat swing impact and caught nothing.  I then tried a jerk bait with no hits.  I then dragged a 3.5 inch ride and got 3. One was a good one too.  I would start with a tube or Ned rig.

[VolFan]

A tube with a heavier than normal head that gives me good feel and keeps it in solid contact with the bottom. Fish slow as above. More aggressive in the warm water discharges.

[PaulVE64]

Jeez it would be nice to use a jig that's more than 1/4 oz in the current I normally fish. Must be about the best presentation in cold water

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

Jeez it would be nice to use a jig that's more than 1/4 oz in the current I normally fish. Must be about the best presentation in cold water

I don’t know if I’ve ever caught anything with a jig in cold water. You mean one with a rubber skirt? 

[PaulVE64]

Honestly, I almost never throw just rubber skirts on my jigs. 

 

I throw alot of these instead. Many times I'll include a soft plastic trailer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm7TgTOupMP/?igsh=c3c4ZWo0eWtmM3Jj

[VolFan]

You can also do a heavier swing head with some of the solid head tubes or a senko.

[jhoffman]

my best winter baits for smallmouths in rivers are by far keitechs literally almost dead drifted, usually they hit it on the swing and jerkbaits

[steves191145]

Weightless zoom flukes or keitech easy shiners cast tight to vertical rock faces at the waters edge after a warming trend. The rock faces really soak up the warmth. If you don't know where the wintering holes are might be able to find a couple trolling #5 shad raps.

[PaulVE64]

Sorry, it only works on my river. And it's going to stay that way 

[roadwarrior]

On 12/21/2023 at 8:20 PM, SpellCaster said:

Just last week I caught a near-3-pounder on a weightless fluke on the Tennessee River.

Year around:  Rage Menace, Rage Bug and Baby Craw.

[cyclops2]

Too cold in N J for this geezer.  I have no idea how any would survive if caught & released with water in the 30's and snow feeding the river.

[flyfisher]

44 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

Too cold in N J for this geezer.  I have no idea how any would survive if caught & released with water in the 30's and snow feeding the river.

Why wouldn't they, i mean they live in it already.  I guess if it was so cold that they froze when they came out of the water that might be an issue but I also think that if that were the case, the rivers would be frozen too.

[bowhunter63]

Nikko rigging a baby or regular size Rage Craw 

 

[Will Ketchum]

There was a Susquehanna river forum now gone where a member winter fished with the Chillee Willie on a stand up jig. He let it sit long on the bottom and moved slowly. The bite was lite.

[PaulVE64]

Darters / Gobies are fire on my rivers draining into the Great Lakes and it seems to be getting better over time.

[heavyduty]

4 hours ago, Will Ketchum said:

There was a Susquehanna river forum now gone where a member winter fished with the Chillee Willie on a stand up jig. He let it sit long on the bottom and moved slowly. The bite was lite.

I believe the guy you are referring to is Bill Yingling. He went by "Dry" for Dr Yingling. Miss his posts! Another fan of the chillee willie is a great Susquehanna River guide, Chris Gorsuch. It's one of his go-to's for winter smallie fishing.